GST, digitisation, e-comm will transform Indian logistic markets: DHL

The implementation of the GST, digitisation and growth in e-commerce are set to bring about a greater opportunities for DHL’s operations in India, according to a top executive of the logistic giant.

DHL chief executive officer (CEO) Ken Allen said that he sees a strong growth in cargo movements between India and China as the two countries continue to expand bilateral trade.

“Given the expected rise in international e-commerce and intra-Asian trade, we see shipment volume between India and China increasing significantly,” he said.

Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific, said that the company sees strong growth potential within and outside the Indian market.
“DHL Express, as such, has well positioned its hubs in Asia for handling the growing volume in and out of India,” said the CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific.

DHL Express has recently announced a 335 million euro expansion at the Central Asia Hub (CAH) in Hong Kong where it recorded a 5.3% growth in cargo movements between China and India in the first nine months this year.

DHL’s CAH, which is located within a five-hour flight time to India, allows it to serve one-half of the world’s most populous nations.

“GST, digitisation and e-commerce are set to bring about a significant change in the way Indian market operates. Online orders will generate a bigger volume of cargo both for product deliveries to consumers and movement of documentations related to infrastructure development in the country,” said Lee.

As a group, Deutsche Post DHL Group has an extensive service-based infrastructure laid out in India with ongoing expansion. But the global group is also viewing potential of India generating large volume of export-oriented goods and documentations, said the executives.

The CAH expansion is part of DHL Express’ ongoing strategies to strengthen hubs at Shanghai, Singapore and Bangkok, linking its Asia-Pacific markets globally.

When put in operations in Q1 2022, the annual throughput of the expanded CAH will be doubled to 1.06 million tonnes per annum of cargo, or 125,000 pieces of shipments per hour.